The historian, essentially, wants more documents than he can really use; the dramatist only wants more liberties than he can really take.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Historians seek more information than they can practically use, while dramatists seek more creative freedom than they can actually utilize.
- In plain terms
- Historians want too many facts; dramatists want too much freedom.
- What can you take from it?
- Balance source material and creative liberty.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What limits your creativity?
- How do you choose what to include in a story?
Another view
Some might argue historians need all available data.
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